[Prev][Next][Index]
The Eighteen Puranas
-
To: alt-hindu@uunet.uu.net
-
Subject: The Eighteen Puranas
-
From: nparker@crl.com (Nathan Parker)
-
Date: 14 Apr 1995 09:33:32 -0700
-
From nparker@crl.com Fri Apr 14 12: 23:21 1995
-
Newsgroups: alt.hindu
-
Organization: CRL Dialup Internet Access (415) 705-6060 [Login: guest]
--------------------
The Eighteen Puranas
--------------------
(Verse numbers and most important subject matters for devotees of Lord
Vishnu.)
Lord Visnu (predominating Deity):
1) Visnu Purana - 23,000 verse.
Stories of various devotees; a description of varnasrama; the six
angas of the Veda; a description of the age of Kali; description of Sveta
Varaha Kalpa, Visnu dharmotara.
2) Naradiya Purana - 25,000 verses.
This Purana contains a synopsis of everything; it describes
Jagannatha Puri, Dwaraka, Badrinatha, etc.
3) Padma Purana - 55,000 verses.
Contains the glory of Srimad-Bhagavatam; the stories of Rama,
Jagannatha, Matsya, Ekadasi, Bhrgu, etc.
4) Garuda Purana - 19,000 verses.
Subject of Bhagavad-gita; reincarnation; visnu-sahaasra-nama;
description of Tarsya Kalpa.
5) Varaha Purana - 24,000 verses.
Describes different vratas; Lord Visnu's glories.
6) Bhagavata Purana - 18,000 verses.
(included by some in the mode of goodness)
Lord Brahma (predominating Deity):
7) Brahmanda Purana - 12,000 verses.
Describes the vedangas; describes the Adi Kalpa.
8) Brahmavaivarta Purana - 18,000 verses.
Contains the glories and pastimes of Radha and Krsna.
9) Markandeya Purana - 9,000 verses.
Stories of Rama and Krsna.
10) Bhavisya Purana - 14,500 verses.
Contains the glories of devotional service; prediction of Lord
Caitanya.
11) Vamana Purana - 10,000 verses.
Contains the story of Lord Trivikrama.
12) Brahma Purana - 10,000 verses.
Lord Siva (predominating Deity):
13) Matsya Purana - 14,000 verses.
Temple construction; describes Vamana and Varaha Kalpas.
14) Kurma Purana - 17,000 verses.
Contains the conversation between Krsna and the Sun-god (mentioned
in Bhagavad-gita); Danvantari; Describes the Laksmi Kalpa.
15) Linga Purana - 10,000 verses.
Contains the glory of Lord Nrsmhadeva; Janardhana; the story of
Ambarisa; the glories of Gayatri.
16) Siva Purana - 24,000 verses.
17) Skanda Purana - 81,000 verses.
18) Agni Purana - 15,400 verses.
Contains the description of Salagrama; Describes the Isana Kalpa.
All these Puranas describe five subject. The Amarkhasa describes
the Puranas as follows:
sargas ca pratisarga ca
vamsa manvantarani ca
vamsanu caritam capi
puranam panca laksanam
A Purana describes:
1) sarga (creation)
2) pratisarga (recreation)
3) vamsa (history of the sages)
4) manvantara (periods of Manu)
5) vamsanucarita (geneology of kings)
